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Introduction
Alfonso Cuaron & Diego Luna
Alfonso Cuaron & Diego Luna at the 2002 San Diego Latino Film Festival.

Media Arts Center San Diego seeking films and videos for 12th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival (March 10-20, 2005).

Media Arts Center San Diego’s prestigious and internationally recognized San Diego Latino Film Festival, soars into a second decade of impressive and exhilarating new activities, special events and initiatives. The Eleventh Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival (SDLFF) is now accepting entries for the 2005 festival. SDLFF will take place March 10-20, 2005 at the Mann Theaters at Hazard Center located in beautiful San Diego, California. Last year’s festival was attended by an audience of 15,000 actively-engaged film lovers, filmmakers, actors, programmers, distributors, industry representatives and journalists. The San Diego Latino Film Festival has used the unique geographical and cultural position of the San Diego Border Region to make the festival a premiere venue for the exhibition of international and U.S. Latino features, shorts and documentaries.

The 2005 San Diego Latino Film Festival will include expanded opportunities for participating filmmakers and their films/videos to take the spotlight. The following is just a taste of what filmmakers and attendees can experience by participating at the upcoming San Diego Latino Film Festival:

  • 100 feature and short films to be screened;
  • over 100 guest filmmakers and actors;
  • SDLFF Awards Competition;
  • Latino New Media & Entertainment Sidebar; Workshops/Seminars with industry representatives and filmmakers (i.e. "Financing", "Distribution");
  • Screenplay Contest;
  • 1st Annual Latino On-line Festival;
  • SDLFF’s "Top Ten to Watch";
  • Celebrity Guest Curator; annual showcase of "Latinos in TV";
  • "Tributes" to acclaimed filmmakers/actors;
  • Concerts @ the Fest;
  • Pre-Fest Launch Parties;
  • "Best of Fest" showcase;
  • Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night Gala Celebrations;
  • the SDLFF Awards Ceremony;
  • Student Outreach Screenings;
  • "Meet the Filmmaker" Dialogues; and,
  • SDLFF’s Annual "Cine Cubano" Sidebar.

Eleven years ago, the San Diego Latino Film Festival was originally established as a student film festival focusing on works by Latinos and/or about the Latino Experience. Since that time, the San Diego Latino Film Festival has developed into one of the larger and most well respected Latino film festivals in the country. Over 75,000 people have attended during the past ten years, and 780 films/videos from across Latin America and the United States have been screened. Past festival guests have included such renowned individuals as John Leguizamo, Alfonso Cuaron, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia, Carlos Carrera, Rodrigo Prieto, Alex Lora, Lupe Ontiveros, Bruno Bichir, Tony Plana, Elpidia Carrillo, Humberto Solas, Dennis Leoni, Arturo Ripstein, Paul Rodriguez, Patssi Valdez, Luis Valdez, Gregory Nava, Edward James Olmos, Lourdes Portillo, Moctesuma Esparza, Ray Bradbury, Jacob Vargas, Patricia Velasquez, Fernando Sariñana, Lucia Murat, Nancy de los Santos, Vanessa Bauche, and hundreds of other emerging and established Latino filmmakers.

Selection Process:

The festival is seeking innovative works that are 'by', 'about' or 'for' the Latino community, that have been produced between 2003-2005. Work previously exhibited in the San Diego / Tijuana Border Region – whether theatrically at another local festival or broadcast on television, – is not eligible to apply. A panel of distinguished curators from the San Diego and Tijuana community will select the films and videos to be screened during the "Official Selection" of the festival. All entries will be pre-screened for eligibility by curators, however, not all entries will be programmed.

An additional panel of distinguished filmmakers, film critics, and actors will sit on this year's Awards Jury. Awards are given for excellence in form and content. 

Awards Categories include:

  • Best Narrative Feature (40 min. and longer),
  • Best Documentary Feature (40 min. and longer),
  • Best Documentary Short (under 40 min.),
  • Best Animated Short (under 40 min.),
  • Best Narrative Short (under 40 min.),
  • Best Experimental Work,
  • Best Youth Work (For film and video works shot, directed and produced by youth under 18 years old),
  • Best Local Work (produced or directed by a current resident of San Diego / Tijuana Border Region),
  • Best Student Work,
  • Best Actress,
  • Best Actor,
  • Best Script,
  • Cinematography,
  • "Audience Award" (popular ballot), and
  • Best "un-produced" screenplay.

Winners will share cash & prizes!

Deadline for submissions to the festival is November 30, 2004.

How to Enter / Entry Form

  • Pay Entry Fees on-line with a credit card. Click here: